Heading home: Some of the Orana RFS firefighters in Tamworth on Friday after fighting the Bonnay blaze near Bundarra. Photo: NSW RFS Orana Team

Superintendent Tim Butcher told The Leader there was still some burning and smouldering trees, particularly in the Ironbark Nature Reserve area.

“[The meeting] was partially about giving them updates about what we’re doing and addressing their issues and concerns,” he said.

“The RFS places such high importance on local knowledge and decision making, we rely on it so part of it was about that search for local knowledge and getting the feedback from local and looking forward to what we can do better.”

Superintendent Butcher said it was important “to acknowledge the effort they did to bring this fire under control.

“We had about 40 people and we also had representatives from The Salvation Army and Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services and they were able to provide some advice on what they can do in recovery efforts,” he said.